Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
381. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Education if she will make changes to the school transport rules which will allow students doing a PLC course in their local secondary school to access school transport (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15099/25]
View answerThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year, over 172,500 children, are transported daily in approximately 7,900 vehicles across 10,300 routes daily to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. These daily trips cover over 100 million kilometres. This figure includes over 143,800 pupils travelling on primary and post primary services, 21,700 pupils with special educational needs, and 6,800 pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine.
The scheme is made up of three separate schemes, the school transport scheme for primary, post primary and for children with special educational needs. Transport is also provided for children who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and those residing in IPAS/EROC centres.
The total expenditure on the scheme in 2024 was €512m.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
The School Transport Schemes funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons who attend schools at primary and post primary level until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.
As PLC learners have progressed from second level education, such incidental transport provision for these learners is no longer considered by the Department.
Based on the details supplied by the Deputy for the pupil referred, an application for school transport would not come within the remit of the School Transport Schemes.
